Suicidal Ideation among French Adolescents: Separation Anxiety and Attachment according to Sex

Abstract

The present study explored the links between the quality of adolescents’ attachment to their mother and their father, separation anxiety and suicidal ideation. Self-report questionnaires were completed by French adolescents (n = 455; M_age = 15.78 years, SD = 1.61) to probe their attachment styles, separation anxiety (related to school phobia, a secure base, and family members), and suicidal ideation. Avoidantly attached adolescents displayed greater school phobia than securely attached adolescents. Female adolescents with an avoidant attachment to their father tended to report less fear related to family members than their secure counterparts. Male adolescents who were insecurely attached to their mother reported more separation anxiety than securely attached males. The structural models were significant for both boys and girls (R² = .38 and .44, p < .001) with good fit indices. Mediation analyses revealed that separation anxiety partially mediated the negative effect of attachment to mother (especially alienation) on suicidal ideation for both girls and boys, and partially mediated the negative effect of attachment to father (especially alienation) on suicidal ideation for boys. These results support an individuated conception of attachment patterns, with a differential influence of dyadic relationships, and could provide a better understanding of adolescents’ suicidal ideation.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• attachment
• separation anxiety
• suicidal ideation

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C. Combes

Dr C. Combes and C. Potard are an Associate Professor at Department of Psycholgy in the University of Angers School, in France. She studies the psychological determinants of health of youth.

F. Labrell

Pr F. Labrell, is Professor at the Department of Educational sciences at the INSHEA, in France. His previous research has focused on the intersections of attachment, stress, and development.